Summer Reading Assignment
Middle School English
Summer 2016
Books: Students will choose a book from the appropriate list to complete a project on over the
summer break. The project is due on the first day of school.
6th Grade

Choose from the following books: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Peak by
Roland Smith, or Skink, No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen.
7th Grade On Level
 Any of the following books from The Giver quartet: Gathering Blue, Messenger,
Son. (For new 7th grade students, they may also read The Giver.) If you have had enough
of The Giver Quartet, you may read The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie
or Skink, No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen (only if you did not read it last summer).
7th Grade Advanced
 Options include The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by
Jules Verne, or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne .
8th Grade
 Options include The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, The Haunting of
Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie, or The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
8th Grade Advanced
 Options include Animal Farm by George Orwell, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee,
or The Arm of the Starfish by Madeleine L’Engle.
Project: Students will choose one of the options below to complete as their summer reading
project.
Option 1: Make an iMovie
The student will make a 10-20 minute iMovie depicting either a pivotal scene or collection of
scenes from the book or a general overview of the story including the introduction of characters,
rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. They will share the iMovie with the class on
the first week of school. With prior approval from parents and Mrs. Kee, students may work
with one other student who has also read the same book.
Option 2: Character Instagram
The student will choose a major character from the novel and create an actual private
Instagram account for this character that includes at least 15 pictures relating to the character and
the story. Pictures must include captions offering some explanation (in words, not just emojis)
and/or hashtag(s). Please email me if your student chooses this option so that I can follow the
account.
Option 3: Make a Craft
Students will make a craft relating to the novel they read. It can be a 5 page scrapbook, a
small quilt, an article of clothing, a piece of jewelry, or any other kind of craft. This project must
include a typed, one paragraph explanation in MLA format.
Option 4: Graphic Novel
Students will create an 8-10 page color graphic novel (comic book) depicting the general
overview of the story including the introduction of characters, rising action, climax, falling
action, and resolution. The book must have a color cover with picture.
Option 5: Artistic Rendering
Students will create an artistic piece relating to the novel they read. It can be a painting,
sculpture, or detailed line drawing. I am open to other types of art, so if your student has another
idea, please email me for approval. It should not be a crayon and pencil drawing on computer
paper. This project must include a typed, one paragraph explanation in MLA format.
If you or your student has any question, please feel free to email me. I will send out rubrics for
each assignment sometime next week.